"Hungry" is no way to spend childhood.

59% of people seeking food assistance choose between paying for food and paying rent or mortgage.

Each night in the U.S., 17.4 million families go to bed hungry. An additional 6.9 million families experience very low food security. That means they don't always know where their next meal is coming from.

"I'm thankful for the fresh food pantry. My family gets a meal every night with fresh produce."

Families should not have to choose between healthy food and paying rent. The Salvation Army provides more than 1 million nutritious meals for seniors, children and families in Chicago every year.

Homelessness Prevention & Emergency Assistance ProgramsThe Salvation Army provides emergency assistance to help with mortgage/rent, utility bills, clothing, medication bills, and other needs in order to keep families in their homes. For more information or support: contact our Corps Community Center, call the emergency assistance hotline 773.205.3520 or learn more online.

Meals at Shelters, Facilities & Other ProgramsThe Salvation Army provides nutritious meals each day for families staying at our shelters, in residential programs, and children enrolled in the Head Start/Early Head Start and camp programs. Most after-school programs also provide a healthy snack.

Bed & Bread ClubMany of The Salvation Army's services ensure families have nutritious food to eat and safe place to sleep. Once the basics are covered, we support families with after-school programming, creative arts education, worship opportunities, and more. Help keep these programs available to those most in need by joining the Bed & Bread Club of Chicago.

Holiday MealsThe Salvation Army provides Thanksgiving and Christmas meals for families unable to create a special meal themselves. We host homemade dinners at our facility and provide a Christmas dinner box to struggling families. Each box feeds a family of 6, and includes meat, potatoes, stuffing, vegetables, biscuits, cake mix and more. You can support this year's Christmas Food Box Project.

How You and Your Family Can HelpHomelessness is an issue plaguing cities and neighborhoods across the country. Here are some ideas for how to talk with your children about homelessness, how you can help fight poverty, and what you can do to make an impact in your community.

The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.